GDLive Newsfeed
We check in with people at each stage of the cash transfer process to see how things are going. Take a look at some of their stories as they appear here in real-time. Learn more about how recipients opt in to share their stories.
Stages:
 
Enrollment
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Transfers
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Completed
Newsfeed > Betty's Profile
Betty's family
Betty
landscapeCountry:
kenya
workOccupation:
Casual labor
faceAge:
36
workCampaign
Kenya Large Transfer
There will be no further updates from this completed recipient.
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
53150 KES ($441 USD)
access_time over 1 year ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
I had to sell most of my assets, including a cow, after receiving the second transfer to fund the purchase of a piece of land. After my husband passed on 10 years ago, raising my two children on a small piece of land has not been easy. I am happy that the land has given more space for farming, thus more food for the family. At the moment, I have a new goal to buy back a dairy cow that can provide enough foodstuff for my household. The cost of buying milk has always been a challenge since I sold the only cow I had, but I hope to build my savings and later buy one that will cut the cost.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
GiveDirectly did well in our village not only for me but also in other households that received the transfer. Everyone used to struggle to provide for their children and living under poor conditions was common in every household. The idea of free cash transfer solved most of the challenges and everyone feels good after spending on the new projects of their choice. I am at peace with my family now and even though I am still struggling after selling my cow; I find it better that I have a wider place to farm.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I have been living with my two children since my husband passed on 10 years ago. Since then, life has never been easy since I have had to provide everything they need, including their school fees. Providing household foodstuff has been hard too since the piece of land he left us with was too small to practice extensive farming. On receiving the second transfer, I saw it was good to sell the only cow I had and used the outcome in buying a piece of land worth KES 80000 after combining it with the transfer. At the moment, I am preparing for the planting season, which I believe will maintain the availability of foodstuff in the future.
 
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($495 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
It was early in the morning when I received a message from GiveDirectly as I was relaxing at home while attending to my visitor who had come visiting. I heard my phone vibrating from where I had kept it but could not bother checking, but as soon as my visitor left, I could not resist the urge to know the content of the message. It was a great moment for me and I could not hold back the expression of the excitement I had after reading the Mpesa message. I thanked God for the promise that had just been honored by GiveDirectly that would change my life for good.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
My husband passed on when my children were still young and I was left with the responsibility of bringing them up alone. As a subsistence farmer, financial constraints have been a major challenge to me. It had always been my wish to build a spacious house that can accommodate us comfortably but had not been able to achieve this as I had decided to deal with paying school fees for my children first as they're always my priority. With the transfer, I was able to pay school fees for my children and build a more spacious house. I am happy that very soon, I will not be sleeping in the same room with my chicken as we have been doing since I am almost through with the construction work. This has made my life different as I am happier than before and I thank God for making this possible through GiveDirectly.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I used to live in a small house that could not accommodate us comfortably. Because of this, we had to sleep in the same room with the chickens and our clothes always had the smell of soot. This always made me fear welcoming people to my home since they would not have a place to sleep comfortably. On receiving my transfer, I decided to spend KES 38000 to build a more spacious house for my family and I am glad that I have been able to achieve this. In addition, I spent KES 15000 to pay school fees for my children who had been sent back home and KES 2000 to buy food for my family.
 
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
 
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I am a widow who wholy depend on casual labor for a living.The daily wages $40 isn't sufficient enough to feed and educate my children.Receiving this money means good education for them for I will spend 200$ on fees.I also intend to purchase 2 dairy cows at 300$ since I sold what I had to facilitate school fees for my children. Furthermore, I will spend $300 on constructing a kitchen as I temporarily cook in the living room.I will use the rest of the transfers to start a grocery business and the use the profits to feed my family.
What is the happiest part of your day?
The happiest part of my day is in the evening. I am a casual laborer and it's at this time that I have already earned for the day (40$) therefore my childrens' education requirements have been met as I solely depend on this to pay their fees.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
When I lost my husband, my daughter was still young and sickly since she had developed a heart problem. I was left to fend for the family as well as take care of her expenses.The amount of money I earn from my casual labor $40per day couldn't cater for school fees and I have to sell my goats to facilitate their education.This has been my biggest hardship.